PHILLIP HAMMOND'S AUTUMN STATEMENT 2016 NEWS AND INFORMATION

Philip Hammond yesterday cleared the way for an NHS giveaway in the Autumn Budget as he signalled he could be ready to loosen the purse strings within months. The Chancellor ruled out extra spending in tomorrow’s Spring Statement, but said there was ‘light at the end of the tunnel’.
He suggested both the Ministry of Defence and NHS could get cash boosts in the Budget later this year. Mr Hammond said debt was still too high and had to be brought down....read

Delivering his first fiscal package since the historic EU referendum vote, the Chancellor insisted the government understands the fury of those who have not shared in the wealth generated by the economy.

The National Audit Office (NAO) warns today that the health service’s ‘endemic’ financial problems have left it so short of cash that it is having to raid building projects to pay for day-to-day services.

Draconian rises signalled by the Chancellor will see the average bill for a Band D household rise up to £320 by 2020/21. George Osborne urged town halls to impose increase to fund social care shortfalls.

The NHS, defence, foreign aid and housing are set to be the big winners, but the police, transport, justice and the environment will bear the brunt, with families braced for big hikes in council tax bills.